Campione 16

by The Stirring of Heroes

  "It's the opposite. I'm the one who's going to defeat you. That's the promise. I owe that goddess a great favor, so I must repay her properly!"

  "Oho."

  Pallas Athena smiled savagely again as she narrowed her eyes.

  "'Tis clear now. Thou hast lost against one in the past."

  "True, that's not a wrong way of putting it. There are all sorts of circumstances between us."

  "Understood. That is to say, bonds of ill fate hath formed between thee and oneself, transcending life and death. 'Tis meet to interpret so, mayhap? —In that case, one shall inquire of you, godslayer. Pray tell, what thine appellation mayeth be?"

  "Remember this well. I am Kusanagi Godou."

  Godou answered the Divine Ancestor who bore the proud face of the war goddess.

  Pallas Athena raised her voice and shouted, as though savoring his name:

  "Very well! In that case, listen well, Kusanagi Godou, as well as the other godslayer present hither. As one connected to the Devil King-slaying hero, Divine Ancestor Pallas Athena hereby issueth a declaration of war to the two of ye!"

  This declaration of war came from the lips of the valorous queen.

  "Well then. Pray tell, will ye accept this side's challenge!?"

  "Since you've made things so clear, it's impossible to refuse."

  Even faster than Godou, this time it was Salvatore Doni who spoke.

  A happy grin hung on his face. However, he opened the cylindrical case that had been slung on his shoulder all this time, taking out the longsword hidden within. This was preparation for battle.

  "I never thought that right when I start investigating the 'King of the End,' I'd run into his subordinates. Let me accept this challenge gratefully. Show me your power!"

  Saying that, the blond Campione chopped at the wind god before him.

  A diagonal slash aiming to cut the enemy from shoulder to hip. Furthermore, Doni's right hand was shining with silver radiance. Using the authority of the magic sword, he intended to slice everything into two.

  In response, the god known as the Wind King suddenly manifested a great blade in his right hand.

  Using this blade, the masked war god redirected Doni's slash. A wise move, considering that an attempt to block would likely result in his body getting sliced through together with the great blade. This also made one fact clear.

  The "Wind King" still remembered Salvatore Doni's magic sword.

  "How amazing. I can't believe you still remember an opponent you fought a thousand five hundred years ago. As expected of a god."

  Feeling impressed for a weird reason, Doni lowered his right arm.

  The tip of his blade pointed at the ground. Of course, rather than abandoning the fight, he was entering his stance for the sword of mental nothingness. Using this undisciplined standing posture, Doni unleashed an upwards slash!

  Confronted with the magic sword, slicing diagonally from below, the "Wind King" moved the great blade in his hand—throwing it away.

  He abandoned his weapon quite readily.

  "!?"

  The one who felt surprised was Godou, not Doni.

  Responding without thought towards whatever the enemy did, no matter what, he swung his sword completely naturally.

  This was precisely the true value possessed by the sword of mental nothingness.

  Consequently, Doni continued to show a cheerful expression on his face while swinging the magic sword, intending to cut the "Wind King" from the left flank up to the chest, severing the right shoulder completely.

  But at the very last moment, the "Wind King" blocked Doni's magic sword with his left arm.

  Clang! The sound of steel striking steel. Indeed, hidden behind the mask and the strips of cloth wrapping the entire body, he or possibly she was a hybrid of a wind god and a sword god, thus possessing a steel-like body.

  The "Wind King" stopped Doni's magic sword using his left forearm.

  But the price paid was a slice penetrating the left arm, two thirds of the way deep.

  Godou had witnessed the same battle situation in ancient Gaul one and a half millennia earlier. But this time, the "Wind King" instantly used his right hand to chop at Doni's magic sword.

  Crash! A sound akin to that of shattering glass.

  It was the sound of Doni's longsword shattering, falling on the ground in the form of countless metal fragments.

  If the enemy was using a body possessing the hardness of steel, even ordinary punches and kicks could serve as substitutes for sure-kill moves from a sacred sword. In a certain sense, this manner of counterattacking greatly befitted the war gods of steel, the embodiments of swords and blades.

  "You're a lot different from before!"

  Discarding the hilt remaining in his hand, Doni swiftly retreated backwards.

  The swift and agile "Wind King" pursued but suddenly halted.

  Seeing his opponent's reaction, Doni smiled happily. The King of Swords was not only a master of swordsmanship but also martial arts techniques across the board with the unarmed arts of juujutsu above all.

  Pursuing to attack without a sword would lead to getting counterattacked.

  Seeing through this point, the "Wind King" ignored Doni's lure.

  The masked war god was most likely a martial artist rivaling Salvatore Doni. This was evident from those movements.

  Having both lost their weapons, the two opponents faced off, maintaining a separation of several meters.

  Doni was in an unguarded state with his back arched mildly, both arms lowered.

  However, this sword guru of a man was capable of transforming myriad martial techniques into powerful assets. Hence, he was even more scary when without a stance.

  Hence, the "Wind King" clenched his right fist and turned his right hand towards Doni.

  This was a stance that seemed to use the fist like a sword. Was the god trying to exhibit martial arts such as unarmed fighting or boxing—?

  The instant just as the two martial artists were about to start an unarmed battle...

  "Time to desist, 'Wind King.' Naturally, thy splendorous valor is the trump card capable of defeating everything... But at this time, there are other heroes who ought to be introduced to the godslayers."

  Orders issued by Pallas Athena. The "Wind King" immediately lowered his fist.

  In the next instant, the hybrid god of wind and steel transformed into a whirlwind, his figure disappearing. Seeing him retreat so simply, Godou nodded instead.

  "I see now... If that guy is the only bodyguard, then there aren't enough opponents for us."

  Pallas Athena wasa Divine Ancestor and at the same time, also the Witch Queen in possession of transcendental powers.

  But she probably did not wield sufficient power capable of rivaling gods or Campiones. Just as it was the case for the previous Witch Queen, Guinevere.

  Of course, it would be a different matter if the seal of dragons and snakes were to be released, thereby recovering a mother earth goddess's divinity.

  However, that was a trump card that could only be used in exchange for one's life.

  Logically, it was not something that could be used recklessly. That said, if she really did possess Athena's soul, then under conditions when it was necessary, she would surely take on a serpentine or draconic form without hesitation...

  In any case, now was not the time yet. Feeling certain of that, Godou said:

  "Where are the guys you want us to meet?"

  "Hahahaha! I'm already here!"

  A cheerful and manly voice descended from the heavens.

  The instant he heard this voice, Godou immediately broke into a run, driven by an instinctive warning that "Staying here any longer will be very dangerous!" To distance himself from Pallas Athena, he sprinted at full speed.

  Immediately, dozens of arrows descended where Godou had been standing previously!

  Taking a sideways glance at the great number of arrows embedded in the ground, Godou had escaped disaster by the slim
mest of margins. Furthermore, the other Campione was also taking strange action at the same time.

  "Ohoh!?"

  Suddenly startled, Doni swiftly jumped backwards.

  He moved as though he were evading someone's attack. But there was no one in front of Doni—no wait, the blond Campione was still continuing to dodge left and right, repeatedly evading someone's attacks.

  His evasive movements looked like he was fighting an unseen enemy and dodging incoming attacks.

  Still, Godou understood quite well that Salvatore Doni was a user of the mind's eye, capable of seeing through divine speed. Instinctively, Godou felt that Doni was probably using this skill right now.

  Doni's attacker was a user of divine speed—impossible for ordinary people to capture with their eyes!

  In actual fact, a figure was currently jumping around Doni's vicinity, wielding some kind of object, moving at super high speed.

  Furthermore, judging from the silhouette of the object, it felt like some sort of pole-shaped weapon.

  "Use this!"

  "Haha, thanks!"

  Godou instantly called out to him. Smiling, Doni extended his right arm towards Godou.

  Godou clicked his tongue, quite displeased that Doni could understand what he meant without the need for explanations, when clearly they were not on intimate terms at all.

  But right now, there was no leisure for grumbling. Instead, Godou summoned:

  "Ama no Murakumo! Fight alongside that guy for now!"

  'Affirmative!'

  Accepting orders, the divine sword residing in Kusanagi Godou's right arm, Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, suddenly manifested in Doni's right hand.

  The gently curving blade measured three feet, three and a half inches. Whether in blade design or construction, it greatly resembled a Japanese sword. However, the blade itself was exuding an jet-black and mysterious aura of calamity.

  "Since I have this, there's nothing to be afraid of!"

  With both hands, Doni adjusted and firmed his grip on the reinforcements Godou had sent.

  Next, he swung Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi horizontally. Immediately, an acute "clang!" resounded, an impact between metal and metal.

  The same, unnatural noise was also produced in his earlier showdown against the "Wind King."

  Ama no Murakumo had splendidly blocked the pole-shaped weapon belonging to the figure moving at divine speed.

  At the same time, the wielder of the metal staff also stopped moving at last, finally allowing Godou to witness his appearance. However, Godou was no less surprised than when Athena made her entrance.

  "The Great Sage Equaling Heaven!?"

  "Indeed. It's been a while, Kusanagi."

  The metal pole Doni had blocked was the famous Ruyi Jingu Staff.

  Jumping about like lightning with divine speed, this monkey king was indeed the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong. Over his yellow battle outfit was leather-crafted gear consisting of gauntlets, greaves and a breastplate.

  Laughing merrily, this [Heretic God] was supposed to have perished on the plains of Senjougahara in Okunikkou.

  In addition, a winged white horse descended from the heavens, accompanied by the sounds of massive wings flapping.

  Pegasus of Greek legend, which Godou had also witnessed before at Naples. Furthermore, Godou clearly remembered the rider sitting astride the winged horse—

  "Hohohoho. How embarrassing. For a formerly dead body to return so shamelessly in this manner..."

  Dressed in a white outfit, the winged horse's rider was holding a longbow.

  He was the one who had fired upon Godou earlier. A handsome face that gave no impression of cowardice despite its exquisite beauty and a head of lustrous, blond, wavy hair. These were two characteristics both belong to Perseus.

  During summer last year at Naples, Godou had fought a deadly battle against this ancient Roman hero.

  Speaking of which, Godou seemed to recall someone mentioning something about "Perseus slain"—

  "Aha, I remember you're that guy, from that time!"

  "Hoho. Quite some care I've received from you, godslayer of the magic sword. Apart from Kusanagi Godou, I must properly repay you as well."

  Doni stared wide-eyed for he had exited the stage at Naples a long time ago.

  Glancing sideways at him, Perseus ordered his steed to flap its wings in descent, finally landing on the left side of Pallas Athena.

  Hence, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven also jumped back from Doni and landed on the Witch Queen's right.

  "How now? Sharp are the swords left behind by the former Witch Queen, are they not?"

  Leading the two war gods who flanked her, Pallas Athena spoke.

  A yellow medallion had appeared in her right hand at some point. Its color mixture belonged to that of an alloy of iron and gold.

  "As the supreme sword god, the 'King of the End' possesseth the authority to turn his perished kin into his own weapons—substituting for bows and arrows, substituting for swords."

  " "......" "

  To think that he possessed that kind of authority in addition to the Divine Sword of Salvation.

  Not only Godou but also Doni was staring speechlessly at the object in the Witch Queen's hand. On the medallion of iron and gold, three sword-shaped emblems were carved on its surface.

  "This [Arrowhead's Discus] is precisely the vessel for storing the authorities of summoned sword gods. Fufufu, this treasure, passed down in secret between successive generations of Witch Queens, one shall now make use of it."

  Confronted with the happily smiling Pallas Athena, Godou gasped.

  Speaking of which, he recalled someone telling him to "beware of the king's arrowhead." Probably because of that, he had started feeling a sense of foreboding as soon as he saw arrows shooting at him just now.

  Godou felt as though a great threat was looming near, but there was no helping it.

  What exactly was it? Just as he was feeling doubtful, Godou noticed something. By the time he noticed, the sky had filled with thunderclouds and he could now see the bright flashes of lightning amidst them.

  He understood now. Now that so many characters had gathered here, surely that opponent must come too!

  "Ama no Murakumo!"

  While Godou called out, lightning also descended from the sky at the same time.

  The jet-black divine sword disappeared from Doni's hand, manifesting in Godou's right hand instead. Instantly, Godou lifted the divine sword towards the sky while invoking the [Bull] at the same time, Verethragna's fifth incarnation.

  This incarnation of unparalleled monstrous might was only usable when facing opponents surpassing human strength.

  Naturally, there was no problem this time.

  Descending rapidly with lightning speed, the enemy was a flying knight charging through the sky. The opponent's energy and penetrative power easily satisfied the [Bull]'s conditions. Using the incarnation's monstrous strength, Godou raised Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi over his head.

  This was to block the lance thrust from the female knight descending from the heavens.

  "Yahhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

  "What wondrous joy to encounter you again, Kusanagi Godou! The man of this knight's destiny!"

  Accompanied by lightning, the knight charging at the ground was a beauty with a head of gorgeous hair the color of honey.

  Her short, sleek, soft hair felt refreshing. One with her steed, descending from the sky, she was clad in chain mail, armed with a barbed cavalry lance.

  This very lance was thrust with the momentum and intention of piercing Godou's forehead with its tip.

  Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi was able to block the attack by relying on the [Bull]'s monstrous strength. The instant the jet-black blade and the lance tip collided, Godou swung the divine sword in a wide, horizontal arc.

  As a result, the lance, horse and female knight were deflected with a loud "Clang!"

  Recovering balance in midair, she then landed behind Pallas Athena.r />
  "Hmph. To think you were able to discern one's arrival. Truly sharp vision indeed."

  "Since things have gotten to this point already, I was thinking you'd surely revive as well."

  Saved for the moment at least, Godou panted as he replied.

  Sitting astride the flying white horse, the female knight was Lancelot du Lac, of course.

  "Well then. How now? Mine enemy of ill fate, Kusanagi Godou. And the other godslayer."

  Now with even the Amazonian queen under her command as well, Pallas Athena announced sonorously:

  "Together with these war gods, the 'Wind King' also standeth by in one's faction. For a declaration of war against the present generation of godslayers, such combat potential would be considered quite sufficient, yes?"

  "Oh my. Definitely quite sufficient. So sufficient that I almost want to thank you."

  In a rare moment, Doni was smiling wryly.

  Although he was always talking about seeking strong foes, nevertheless, opponents of flawless caliber had now appeared in quick succession. This was probably the reason why he was showing a wry smile.

  Seeing this reaction, Pallas Athena smiled.

  "In that case, 'tis meet. Very well, pass these words to ye kin—the other godslayers. Anon, one shall head thither to the farthest ends of the east to undertake the revival ritual for the 'King of the End.' Defeat one before the ritual's end if there are any objections."

  "What did you say!?"

  In response to Godou's shock, the reincarnated Athena declared acutely:

  "One hath been hesitating all this time. Whether one ought to vanquish mine enemy of ill fate first or to rouse one's master the hero. Then one hath decided. 'Twould be joyful if all shall be fulfilled."

  "I can't believe you can be so carefree..."

  Godou felt deeply surprised before realizing. From the start, Athena was a wandering goddess who willfully acted as she pleased, a ship steering according to the wind, a being who moved forward according to whim and fancy.

  Rather, it would be better to say that this was very much in Athena's style.

  In actual fact, the fortitude displayed in Pallas Athena's smile was also identical to that of the snake goddess.

  "Adieu. See ye at the far ends of the east, godslayers!"